Why have we not been able to find solution to this malaise of terrorism, especially in the context of Islam? And how much can the religion of Islam be blamed for such acts of violence?
Source/Credit: The Edmonton Journal
By Mohyuddin Mirza | March 9, 2015
There is no dearth of commentaries, analyses, ideas and reports on the subject of extremism, terrorism, extremist Islam and radicalization of youths from western nations. A renewed urgency of handling or tackling this problem resulted after attacks on Canadian soil and more recently the massacre in Paris. The Islamic State (IS) is in the news on a daily basis and there is no end in sight for this ideology.
Why have we not been able to find solution to this malaise of terrorism, especially in the context of Islam? And how much can the religion of Islam be blamed for such acts of violence?
I have been a practising Muslim since my birth and I have never been taught to show violence of any kind. Actually it was my understanding of Islam that taught me to be patient, forbear, let go of small issues and practise kindness at every level. In my first, understandable introduction to the Qur’an as a seven-year-old, I learned that “there is no compulsion in matter of faith.”
Some people point to passages from the Qur’an that appear to incite violence. Such passages exist in all religious texts, and must be taken in proper context. For example, in Islam, when permission was given to wage jihad, it was to defend the freedom of worship and conscience.
In the evolution of religion, as it became entangled with governance, many people used religion as a means of achieving dominance over others. That is where totally wrong interpretations of jihad came in as well.
I want to declare categorically that the religion of Islam has nothing to do with violence.
How can the Ahmadiyya Muslim understanding of Islam help stop this crisis?
Ahmadiyya Muslim Jamaat was founded in 1889 as a reform movement in Islam. Its founder, Hazrat Mirza Ghulam Ahmad, interpreted Islamic teachings and commandments based on divine guidance. He categorically declared that the jihad of the sword was to be replaced by the jihad of the pen. Because of this peaceful interpretation of jihad, the Ahmadiyya Muslim community is now being prosecuted and persecuted.
How can we solve this crisis?
— Heaven and hell are not geographical locations where people go physically and come back. That is a promise made by fanatic clergy to entice young minds with the promise of glory and romantic interludes. We need to teach our children that the kindness of good deeds is rewarded in this life, not the next.
— There is a strict accountability after death. Make this a powerful tool for living this life.
— Islam does not prescribe physical punishment for apostasy. Such matters should be left to the realm of the hereafter.
— Those who feel a lack of purpose in life need to discover the Creator, thus avoiding falling prey to fanatics. A meaningful relationship with God can lead to individual peace, which in turn helps us create peaceful communities. No violence should ever be attributed to God.
— Avoid creating conflicts in the name of freedom of speech. We have made freedom of speech such a slippery slope that we are forgetting the norms of decency and respect. Don’t ridicule or show disrespect to holy personages of other religions. Islamic teaching is very clear on this. To be a Muslim, one must accept the truthfulness and authenticity of founders of all faiths and holy personages.
— Loyalty to one country is part of Islamic faith. This teaching should not be trampled with.
Because the Ahmadiyya Muslim community follows the jihad of pen, not gun, we have not produced any extremists or terrorists for the past 125 years. Instead of choosing violence, we write and debate, and provide organizational leadership during times of crisis.
The simple moral standards of kindness, respect, honesty and integrity are a solid foundation for lasting peace.
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Mohyuddin Mirza is an outreach director of the Ahmadiyya Muslim community in Edmonton.
© Copyright (c) The Edmonton Journal
Read original post here: Perspective: Ahmadiyya Islam’s ‘jihad of the pen’ inspires peaceful approach to crisis | Mohyuddin Mirza
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